Clutch and control mechanism therefor



Sept. 8, 1 936. J. w. RACKLYEFT CLUTCH AND CONTROL MECHANISM THEREFOR 2 sheet-sneet 1 Filed July 13, 1934 Sept 8,1936.

J. W. RACKLYEFT CLUTCH AND CONTROL MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed July 15, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- Patented Sept. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLUTCH AND CONTROL MECHANISM THEREFOR 15 Claims.

The present invention comprises novel improvements in clutches and particularly clutches of the type wherein a coil spring is subjected to contractile force for obtaining the clutching efiect thereof between driving and driven parts.

My invention involves improved applications and arrangements of parts of a spring clutch of the type embodied in my copending application for patent filed May 10th, 1933, Serial No.6'70,383.

An important feature of my invention resides in a peculiar type of control device for operating certain tripping mechanism by which my clutch is rendered active and inactive, or in other words, thrown in and out, according to the common mode of characterizing the operation of clutch devices. I

The control means utilized in my present construction deals with the problem presented in the use of clutches in connection with certain types of machines, as for instance washing machines or the like, in which it has been found that the proper operation of the machine is at times interfered with if the control handle or part is operated and held in operated position too long. Where a sensitive clutch is being used with quick acting trip devices for throwing the clutch in, the latter operated by the control device or handle, the holding of the control handle in its operated position too long sometimes causes the disengagement or throwing out of the clutch after it has been thrown in, or vice versa and with my new improvements such an operation becomes impossible. Obviously, machines of the type with which my-invention is especially adapted to be used are operated by unskilled persons, and it is a desideratum therefore that the operating mechanism be fool-proof, so to speak, and by the use of my special type of clutch and the special improved control means above referred to, this end is attained as will be more fully pointed out as this description proceeds.

Clutch means of the type of my invention are well adapted for use in connection with an actuated part, as, for instance, an agitator constant- 1y driven in one direction, as Well as in conjunction with an actuating part required to be oscillated in opposite directions. Where my present clutch is employed in conjunction with an oppositely moving or oscillated actuating part such for instance as an oscillating agitator, another problem is met with incident to the reversal of movement of the actuated part. In the instance of the agitator this problem involves the tendency .of the inertia of the water agitated or moved'to act upon the actuated part with a force that may interfere with and momentarily release the clutch spring incident to the over-ridingeffect of the actuated part in relation to the driving gear or driving member. Therefore, another important provision of the present invention lies in the employment of an over-ride lock intermediate the actuated part and the driving member aforesaid, as also will be more fully set forth thereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings:---

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly in section, of motor driven operating mechanism such as capable of use in conjunction with oscillating type washing machines in which the agitator oscillates or moves back and forth in the washing chamber or compartment, my control and other novel mechanism being applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, somewhat diagrammatic, view illustrating certain control trip and clutch actuating shuttle parts in conjunction with the driving gear, these parts forming essential features of my present improvements and disposed in the position assumed thereby after actuation of the control handle and just preliminary to disengagement or release of the clutch for discontinuing the operation of; the actuated part or agitator.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 illustrating the manner in which the trip arm engages the shuttle or clutch engaging and release member to shift said member for the release of the clutch.

Figure 4 is a view similar to the previous two figures described, the clutch spring wholly released.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectionalview taken about on the line 5-5 of Figure 1 and bringing out more clearly the disposition of the clutch spring around the hub of the crank which operates-the oscillating sector lever, said crank constituting an actuated part or member of the mechanism; also illustrating certain parts of the control device or means and the arrangement of the shuttle or clutch engaging or release member. 1

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing more particularly the control mechanism with the trip sleeve in its down or actuated position as shown in full lines and in its normal unoperated position in dotted lines, the arrangement of parts being such as to cause adjustment of the parts as illustrated in Figure 2 to bring'the trip arm for the shuttle plate in position to engage said plate for actuation thereof.

Figure '7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but showing the parts in their normal positions preliminary to the depression or downward actuation of the handle of the control device, said handle being disposed in interlocked relation to the trip sleeve ready to actuate the latter.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6 but showing certain of the parts of Figure 6 in the positions assumed thereby just before the trip sleeve of the control device reaches its lower position in which it is inter-engaged by the shuttle trip arm.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary enlarged view showing one of the spider arms of the actuated member or crank with the over-ride lock feature intermediate said arm and the driving gear.

Figure 10 is a detail perspective view of the lock dog or wedge of the override lock.

Figure 11 is a side view more clearly showing the trip sleeve of the control device.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional view showing more clearly the detent parts intermediate the drive gear and the shuttle or clutch engaging and release member.

Figure 13 is a detail view of the clutch spring.

Figure 14 illustrates a modified form of override preventing mechanism.

While my invention has been illustrated as applicable to an agitating type of operating mechanism for washing machines, it is to be borne in mind that the usefulness of the invention is not limited to this particular application, for it may be employed in many places and for many different kinds of machines where a positive clutch is required that will be quick acting under the influence of the control device therefor, and wherein the control device is of an especially flexible nature so as to effectively and quickly cause the engagement and disengagement of the clutch means in a fool-proof manner so that there is not liable to be any difliculty of operation experienced by reason of the fact that the operator is unskilled and might therefore tend to maintain the control device under pressure an undue length of time, which in the case of the present mechanism will have no ill effect upon the proper operation of the clutch mechanism. 4

With the foregoing therefore in mind, and referring to Figures 1 to 5 primarily, there is illustrated a portion of the gear or driving mechanism housing of a typical machine, same designated at I and enclosing therein the driving member 2 in the form of a gear which is a worm gear and is operated by the worm 3 carried by the motor driven shaft 4 mounted suitably in bearings in the said housing. While the motor driven shaft 4 is in operation the driving member or gear 2 will continuously rotate in one direction, that of the arrow applied to Figure 1. There is shown also a driven agitator shaft 5 having a sector 6, the teeth of which mesh with those of a sector 1 on an oscillating driven lever 8 having the axle 9. A supporting lever 9a, pivotally secured to shaft 5 and axle 9, is provided to hold the axle 9 in a definite'spaced relation with regard to shaft 5, so that the teeth of the sectors 6 and I remain in engagement during oscillating movements of lever 8 and axle 9. These latter parts may be conventional and are illustrative of a common mechanism used for operating agitating mechanism of -washing machines.

The driven lever 8 is actuated by means of a suitable crank ID, the hub of which is designated H, and is rotative upon the stub shaft or axis member |2 suitably mounted in the housing I and forming the stationary axis also for the driving crank or driven member In, said long bearing receiving the driven pin H by which the crank I0 is connected with the oscillating lever 8 at the free end of the latter. The hub of the hollow driving member or gear 2 is designated 2a and receives the axis member or shaft I2 as seen best in Figure 5, the said hub 2a and the hub ll of the driven member or crank l0 being co-axial with their outer surfaces substantially in alignment. The hub 2a according to the strict showing of the drawing in Figure 5 is an integral hub on a transmitting gear |5 which is riveted or otherwise rigidly attached to the lowermost portion of the driving gear 2, said gear l5 meshing with a second transmission gear IS on the driving shaft for a suitable wringer mechanism according to the simple application of the invention as illustrated, though the gears l5 and Hi and shaft H are not material features of the present invention whatsoever and could be dispensed with, in which event the hub 2a would be integral with the gear 2 instead of being attached thereto by the fastening means I8.

I now come to the clutch feature of the present invention, the same comprising the clutch spring l9 having the dead end |9a interlocked or engaged with the crank ID by extending into a vertical opening near the hub portion of .the crank, the live end of said spring being designated I92) and the body of the spring being coiled about the hub ll of the crank I0 and the hub member 2a of the driving gear 2. The spring clutch member |9 may be characterized as normally free in reference to the hub 2a when this clutch member is inactive or the clutch thrown out, so to speak, the action required to obtain a clutching of the parts H and 20. together involves the application of contractile or torsional tightening movement of the spring l9 about the hub 2a by rotation of part 20. When the spring clutch member I9 is tightened about the hub 2a the hub II of the crank III will be clutched to the driving member 2 and its cooperating part 2a so that the driving forces of the member 2 may be transmitted to the crank l0 and to those parts which are driven by said crank.

For the operation of the clutch spring in engaging and releasing the same relative to the hub 2a, there are utilized an engaging and releasing member in the form of a sliding shuttle 20, certain trip mechanism including a trip arm 2| and a trip sleeve 22, or trip arm actuating part, the latter two parts forming members of a control mechanism that includes the downwardly movable handle 23 including the hollow stem 24 cooperative with the trip sleeve 22 and with a spindle 25 which carries the trip sleeve, as will shortly be more fully described.

The trip arm 2| is rotatively mounted at the upper portion of a post 26 around which is disposed a coil spring 21, one end of which is deadended on the post 26 by a pin 28, whilst the upper end of the spring 21 is engaged with the arm 2| so as to normally tend to shift said arm 2| in a contra-clockwise direction and maintain said arm cooperatively engaged with the trip sleeve 22. The trip sleeve 22 which is vertically slidabie upon the spindle 25 is normally upraised or pushed upwardly by means of a spring 29 that encircles the lower end of the spindle 25 and the lower portion of the sleeve 22, said spring 29 being interposed between the housing and a collar 3| fixed to the lower portion of said sleeve 22. The expansion force of the spring 29 engaging the collar 3| causes the upward push on the sleeve 22 to tend normally to hold it in the position of Figure 7. Collar 3| may be integral with sleeve 22;

The sleeve 22 is provided with a conical shoulder 32, the tapering portion of which is adapted to slide in engagement with a side of the trip arm 2| as shown in Figures 6 and 7 and also Figures 2 to 4, the upper end of said shoulder 32 providing an abutment 33 on top of which the arm 2| may engage under certain conditions as shown in Figure 6. At its upper end the spindle 25 is provided with a reduced portion 34 upon which the stem 24 of the handle 23 is directly mounted and slides. At its upper end the sleeve 22 is cupshaped as shown at 22a to provide a hollow portion closed by a suitable part 22b, and this cupshaped portion 22a in conjunction with balls 35 disposed therein provides what may be called a ball clutch intermediate the sleeve 22 and thehandle 23. The lower end of the stem 24 of the handle 23 is capable of engaging on top of the balls 35 and when so engaged the downward moving force of the stem 24 of the handle 23 may be communicated to the sleeve 22 until such time as the balls 35 reach the shoulder 36 that forms the juncture between the reduced portion 34 and the body of the spindle 25. When the balls 35 abut with the said shoulder 36 which is a downwardly inclined or tapering shoulder as seen in the drawings, the balls areforced outwardly by said shoulder after the manner illustrated in Figure 6 in full and dotted lines, and the downward moving force of the handle is thus discontinued in reference to the sleeve 22. In other words, this action of the parts 24 and 35 might be described as an un-clutching of the handle from the sleeve 22 when the balls 35 reach the shoulder 36 so that not only the downward mov-.

ing force of the handle is discontinued in reference to the sleeve 22, but the holding action of the downward push of the handle in reference to maintaining the sleeve 22 at its downward limit of movement is likewise rendered inactive or discontinued.

Reverting now to the clutch engaging and disengaging device comprising the shuttle member or plate 20 seen best in Figures 2 to 5 inclusive, it is notable that this shuttle member is of yokelike construction in that it spans or straddles the hub 2a, and it is located also in the plane of the lower live end |9b of the clutch spring I9. As a support for the shuttle member 20, it is notable that said member rests upon the lower or bottom portion of the hollow driving gear 2- and is horizontally slidable relatively thereto, or radially slidable in reference to the axis l2. On its inner periphery the shuttle member-20 is equipped with an engaging lug or member 31 adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the live end |9b of the spring l9. On its outer periphery the shuttle member 20 is equipped with integral extensions 38a and 38b, the free extremities of which are somewhat rounded so as to readily engage in a recess 2|a in the free endvided with a spring pressed detent ball 40. Thus when the clutch member 20 is in the position of Figure 2 it is held in such position against accidental displacement by the detent member 40 and similarly when the said member 20 is in the position as shown in Figure 3 it will be likewise held by said detent member 40. However, the detent member 40 is such in its action that it will readily permit' of the quick sliding of the shuttle member 20 under an actuating force.

Describing now the operation of my clutch mechanism of the construction set forth, reference is made first to Figure 2 wherein the clutch spring I9 is shown as engaged by the shuttle member 2|l-on the driving gear 2 so that the rotative driving force of the gear acts upon the live end |9b oi the clutch spring and the driving forces are transmitted from the driving member 2 to the driven member or crank Ill. The action of said driving forces when the parts are "in the position of Figure 2 is of course to contract the clutch spring l9 about the hub 2a as previously set forth herein.

Assuming now that it is desired to unclutch the driving member 2 from the driven member or crank III to stop the operation of the latter with the clutch parts in the position of Figure 2, the handle 23 is depressed as shown in Figure 6 until the ball clutch parts 35 are disengaged from the stem 24. Shortly before this disengagement takes place, the cone portion 32 of the trip sleeve 22 engages thetrip arm 2| of the control device after the manner illustrated in Figure 8 and upon the final downward movement of the sleeve 22 saidarm 2| will engage over the shoulder 33 previously described. The engaging action of the cone portion 32 of the sleeve 22 with the arm 2| shifts the arm 2| laterally in the direction of the arrow in Figure 2 so that the arm 2| will engage by its recess 2|a with one of the extension parts 38a and 38b of the shuttle member 20, thereby to cause sliding of the shuttle member 20 to disengage its projection 31 from the clutch spring I9 at the live end |9b of the latter, permitting release action of the clutch and discontinuance of the drive from the drive member 2 to the driven member or crank 0. It was noted that before one of the extensions 38a--38b of the shuttle member 20 engages the arm 2|, the arm 2| acts as a detent to temporarily lock the trip sleeve 22 in the position as shown in Figure 6. Thereafter, of course, the arm 2|, being engaged by one of the extensions 38a,38b of the shuttle member 2|] and shifted in the direction of the arrow in Figure 2, is carried away from the trip sleeve 22, and the latter is free at such time to quickly rise under the action of the expansion spring 29 to assume the dotted line position of Figure 6 or the full line position of Figure 7. This action is accomplished whether the person operating the control handle 23 lets go of said handle immediately after depressing the same for the control operation of releasing the clutch, or whether such person maintains the handle under downward pressure after the initial depression thereof. The action of the trip sleeve 22, therefore, not being automatically released from the pressure control of the handle 23, is important in preventing a reengagement of the clutch after release thereof by the depression of the handle which would happen if the automatic release of the trip sleeve 22 were not obtained in the manner above set forth.

Figure 3 shows how the trip arm 2| by its abutment cooperation with the shuttle member 20 disengages the shuttle member from the live end of the spring l9, said arm 2| being of course pushed by the shuttle member 20 further in the direction of the arrow in Figure 3 until the extension part 380 disengages from the recess 2|a of part 2|, whereupon the spring 21, see Figures 6 and 7, restores the trip arm 2| to its position as shown in Figure 4 and in Figure '7, where it is ready to be engaged later bythe cone portion 32 of the trip sleeve 22 upon a subsequent depression of of the handle 23.

The clutch means has now been fully released, and in order to engage the clutch again, the previous cycle is gone through, except that the member 38b will this time be actuated by the trip arm 2| for shifting movement of the shuttle member 20 in an opposite direction to that illustrated as taking place inFigure 3, under which conditions the projection 31 of the shuttle mem-- ber 20 will be re-engaged with the live end |9b of the clutch spring, whereby the clutch is thrown in, a reverse action, of course, to that described at the outstart of setting forth the operationof the parts.

In other words, when the clutch is thrown in as shown in Figure 2, the extension member 3811 projects fromthe driving member 2 a greater distance than the extension member 38b so that the member 38a is the only one active in reference to the trip arm 2| at such time. When, however, the clutch is thrown out as shown in Figure 4, the extension member 38b is the only part available on the shuttle member 20 for engaging with the trip arm 2| to enable throwing in of the clutch after the same has been released. The clutch mechanism as before described is suitable for clutching drive and driven parts generally. In respect, however, to constructions wherein the driven parts involve oscillatingmembers such as 5, 6, I, and j, of an oscillating agitator of a washing machine, the action of the driven part in conjunction with a spring clutch involves the problem of dealing with movement of the driven part additional to that which is compelled by the driving forces of the drive part, and which may tend to somewhat release the clutch action of the clutch spring which depends for its effectivenessupon the load being maintained on the live end of the spring to effect contraction thereof. This additional movement as explained above is usually termed overriding in this art.

In order to meet the above problem I show in Figures 1, 5, 9, and 10, certain special parts which I preferably employ for such purpose. These include a spider comprising one or more diverging arms 4| integral with and extending radially from the crank hub Each of said arms 4| is equipped with an override lock member 42 in the form of a segmental plate or arm pivoted at 42 and provided with a wedge or cam engaging surface 44 eccentric to the concentric hollow body of the driving gear 2. Normally when the hub II is clutched to the hub portion 2a of the driving member 2, the arm or arms 4| of course travel in the same-direction as the driving member 2 and at the-same speed; Therefore, during the driving operation when the clutch spring I9 is in clutched engagement, the parts 4|, H, and ID as driven members operate in unison and substantially as one with the driving member 2, being stationary relatively to each other.

To explain the overriding action mentioned above more fully, attention is called to the fact that the speed of the oscillatory movement of tne pitman varies according to the position of the crank It with respect to the same. Assuming that the parts Ill and 8 are in a position as shown in Figure l and the gear 2 is rotated in a direc-- tion as indicated by the arrow in this figure, it will be noted that the crank Ill and pitman 8 are in a dead-center position at which the motion of the pitman 8 is zero. If rotation of the crank ||l is now continued in the direction of the arrow as indicated above, the oscillatory movement of the pitman 8 changes from zero to its maximum speed, which maximum speed will be reached when the crank has traveled through an arc of 90 with respect .to the previously assumed position, and upon continuation of the rotation of the crank, the speed of the pitman will now slow down and reach another zero position, which is the other dead-center position opposite to the dead-center position mentioned before. Further continuation from this latter dead-center position will again increase the oscillatory movement of the pitman from zero to its maximum speed, which will be reached at the end of the movement of the crank l0 through an arc of 90 with respect to the latter dead-center position. After the crank has passed this position the speed of the pitman will again slow down from maximum to zero and the parts described in the foregoing have now completed a full cycle of rotation and oscillation and are again in the position shown in Figure 1. Every time, during the cycle of operation, that the speed of the pitman 8 is reduced from maximum to zero, there is a tendency of the pitman to maintain its maximum speed and to force the crank l0 somewhat ahead with respect to the gear 2 due to the inertia of rotation of the water in the tub, and the overriding action mentioned previously herein takes place. This overriding action tends to somewhat release the clutch spring l8 because in order for such clutch spring to be effective in its clutching action it must be under load with its deadend relatively stationary and its live end contracted under torsional tension.

To eliminate the possibility of the overriding or advancing movement of the crank Ill and its hub relatively to the driving member 2 as set forth, I provide the override lock member 42 previously mentioned. The eccentric surface 44 of said lock member 42 is normally held in slight frictional contact with the inner surface 2b of the member 2 by the spring 45 as depicted substantially in Figure 9. Under such conditions the member 42 does not in any way influence the normal cooperation ofthe parts 4|, H, and I0 and the driving member 2, as long as these parts are operating in unison or are relatively statlonary respecting each other. However, should the parts Ill, H, and 4| have the tendency to override while moving in the same direction of rotation as the driving member 2, the lock 42 comes into play immediately with its eccentric surface 44 to prevent such overriding movement. Of course the foregoing deals with the condition of active clutching adjustment of the clutch spring I9. When the clutch action is thrown out and the driven parts Ill, 4| are stationary on account of the inaction of the clutch whilst the driving member 2 is rotated, the lock member 42 simply slides into light surface frictional contact at its portion 44 with the surface 2b of the driving member 2, thus permitting independent movement of these parts. The action of the override lock member 42 is effective only when the crank I0 and the driving member 2 are clutched together. It is noted that the extension members 38a and 38!) .extend through openings in the wall that forms a portion of the hollow body of the driving member 2 and are slidable radially in such openings.

Obviously, without the separate acting part 22,

the handle 23, if depressed and immediately released, might not shift the arm 2| to move the shuttle 20, if the part 38a or 381) had just passed the arm 2|. The cone detent 32 therefore is required so the part 22 may always be held down long enough to make sure the arm 2| will remain in the path of movement of one of the extensions 38a and 38b a period of time sufiicient that the shuttle will be tripped, whereupon the part 22 is automatically released by the tripping action itself after performance thereof. The release of the part 22 will take place as before stated, even though the operator holds the handle 23 depressed longer than necessary, this release being essential to prevent two trip actions of the shuttle that would effect clutching and unclutching (or vice versa) in one cycle of rotation of the drivin member 20.

In Figure 14 I have shown another construction of an override lock member which has certain advantages over the override lo'ck member previously described in connection with Figure 1. It has been noted that the overrride lock mechanism disclosed in Figure 1 causes considerable friction between the crank sleeve I l and shaft l2 when the locking mechanism is in operation, and to relieve the shaft l2 of any undue friction the arrangement disclosed in Figure 14 has been devised. The override lock mechanism of Figure 14 comprises a plate 60 having arms 6|, 62, 63 and 64. The plate 60 is further provided with a cut-out portion at 65 which is of a similar shape to the crank portion 66 but the said cut-out portion or opening 65 is slightly larger than the crank portion 66, as clearly shown at 61 and 68. The arms BI and 62 rest upon the upper surface of the gear 2 while the arms 63 and 64 are provided with downwardly bent portions 63' and 64 which are adapted to engage the inner surface 69 of the gear 2. The arm 6| is further provided at its underside with a lock member Ill and spring II. This lock member 10 is of exactly the same construction as the lock member 42 described previously herein and the operation is likewise the same. It

will therefore be noted that the plate 60 is rotated in unison with the crank 66 and as soon as the overriding action of the crank 66 takes place the lock member 10 will lock the plate 60 with respect to the gear 2. When this locking action takes place the plate 60 will move slightly in a direction indicated by an arrow in Figure 14 and the downwardly extending portions 63' and 64' of the arms 63 and 64 will be forced against the inner surface '69 of the gear 2, thereby locking the plate 60 against the gear 2 in a manner which will be quite obvious. The overriding of the "crank 66 with respect to the gear 2 is thereby prevented. When the parts are in a locking position as 'just described, there will still be a slight play between the plate 60 and shaft l2 as indicated at Bl. The locking force is therefore not transferred upon shaft [2 and no undue friction will be created between the shaft l 2 and the crank sleeve l I. In other words the plate 60 is movable with respect to the crank 66, shaft l2, and sleeve II and the play between the plate 60 and crank 66 is such that when the locking member 10 is brought into operation and the portions 63' and 64 have engaged the surface 69 of the gear 2 there will be no pressure applied against the shaft l2.

The overridinglock mechanism as disclosed in Figure 14 is of considerable value in connection with small machinery such as washing machines or the like wherein any undue amount of friction has to be eliminated.

Having thus described my invention, what claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-- 1. In a clutch mechanism, in combination, a driving member, a driven member, clutch means intermediate the two said members, a shuttle member mounted upon the driving member and having a part for engaging and releasing the clutch means, and a control device including a trip member movable to engage one end of the shuttle member to cause clutch engaging action thereof, and also cooperative with the other end of the shuttle member to cause clutch release action thereof.

2. In a clutch mechanism, in combination, a driving member, a driven member adapted to be actuated by the driving member, clutch means intermediate said two members comprising a clutch spring, one end of which is dead-ended on one of said members and the other end of which is a live end for cooperation with the other of said members, clutch releasing and engaging means cooperative with the clutch spring including a yoke-shaped shuttle member having a part to engage the live end of theclutch spring, extensions projecting from said shuttle member by which it may be moved in opposite directions, and a control device movable to a position to engage one of said extensions for shifting the shuttle to engage said part with the live end of the clutch spring for throwing in the clutch, said control device being also engageable with the other extension of said shuttle member for reversing its movement to disengage said part of the live end of the clutch spring.

3. In a clutch mechanism, in combination, a. driving member, a driven member, clutch means intermediate the two said members, a shuttle member mounted upon the driving member and having a part for engaging and releasing the clutch means, a control device including a trip member movable to engage one end of the shuttle member to cause clutch engaging action thereof and also cooperative with the other end of the shuttle member to cause clutch release action thereof, and automatic detent means for holding the shuttle member in either of its positions by which clutch release and engaging adjustments thereof are obtainable.

,4. In a clutch mechanism, in combination, a driving 'member, a driven member, clutch means intermediate the two said members, a shuttle member mounted upon the driving member and having a part for engaging and releasing the clutch means, a control device including a trip member to engage and actuate said shuttle member for clutch engaging and releasing operations, and a control handle for operating the trip member to cause inter-engagement thereof with the shuttle member, together with automatic means for releasing the trip member from the actuating effect of said control handle after the control handle is actuated and held in an actuated position.

5. In a clutch mechanism, in combination, a driving member, a driven member, clutch means intermediate the two said members, a shuttle member mounted upon the driving member and having a part for engaging and releasing-the clutch means, and controlling instrumentalities for engaging and actuating said shuttle member for clutch engaging and releasing operations, said control device comprising an actuated part for moving the trip member into coaction with the shuttle member, a handle for operation of said actuating part, and automatic means for disconnecting the handle from said actuating part after the handle is moved to cause the actuating-part to effect cooperation between the trip member and the shuttle member.

6. In a clutch mechanism, in combination, a driving member, a driven member to be actuated by the driving member, a clutch element for clutching and unclutching the driving member and driven members relatively to each other, a clutch engaging and releasing member movable to cause said clutching and unclutching operations, trip means movable to shift said engaging and releasing member for one movement to cause clutching action and another movement to cause unclutching action, a control device for actuating said trip means comprising a handle, an actuating part and meansfor interlocking said actuating part and handle upon operation of the latter for moving the trip means.

I. In a clutch mechanism, in combination, a driving member, a driven member to be actuated by the driving member, a clutch element for clutching and unclutching the driving member and driven members relatively to each other, a clutch engaging and releasing member movable to cause said clutching and unclutching operations, trip means movable to shift said engaging and releasing member in one movement to cause clutching action and another movement to cause unclutching action, a control device for actuating said trip means comprising a handle, an actuating part, interlocking instrumentalities for interlocking said actuating part and handle upon operation of the latter for moving the trip means, resilient means for causing return of the handle to its normal position when released while said part is in cooperation with the trip means, and means to cause the actuating part to return to its normal position incident to the tripping of the clutch engaging and releasing member by the trip means.

8. In a clutch mechanism, in combination, a driving member, a driven member to be actuated by the driving member, a clutch element for clutching and unclutching the driving member and driven members relatively to each other, a clutch engaging and releasing member movable to cause said clutching and unclutching operations, trip means movable to shift said engaging and releasing member in one movement to cause clutching action and another movement to cause unclutching action, a control device for actuating said trip means comprising a handle, an actuating part, means for operatively connecting said part and handle upon operation of the latter for moving the trip means, instrumentalities between said part and the handle for causing return of the handle to its normal position when released while said part is in cooperation with the trip means, means to cause the actuating part to return to its normal position incident to the tripping of the clutch engaging and releasing member by the trip means, and clutch means between the handle and the said actuating part for automatically disconnecting the two when the handle has been operated to move the actuating part for coaction with the trip means.

9. In a clutch mechanism, in combination, a driving member, a driven member to be actuated by the driving member, a clutch element for clutching and unclutching the driving member and driven member relatively to each other, a clutch engaging and releasing member movable to cause said clutching and unclutching operations, trip means movable to shift said engaging and releasing. member in one movement to cause clutching action and another movement to cause unclutching action, a control device for actuating said trip means comprising a handle, an actuating part operated by said handle for moving the trip means, automatic clutch means between the said handle and actuating part so that when the handle is operated to cause cooperation of the actuating part and trip means, the actuating part is free to move independently of the handle, and an instrumentality to restore the actuating part to its normal position either before or after the restoration of the handle to its normal position.

10. In a clutch mechanism, in combination, a driving member, a driven member to be actuated by the driving member, a clutch element for clutching and unclutching the driving member and driven member relatively to each other, a clutch engaging and releasing member movable to cause said clutching and unclutching operations, trip means movable to shift said engaging and releasing member in one movement to cause clutching action an another movement to cause unclutching action, a control device for actuating said trip means comprising a handle, an actuating. part operated by said handle for moving the trip means, automatic clutch means between the said handle and actuating part so that when the handle is operated to cause cooperation of the actuating part and trip means, the actuating part is free to move independently of the handle, an instrumentality to restore the actuating part to its normal position either before or after the restoration of the handle to its normal position, and a member on said actuating part for coaction with the trip means to prevent restoration of the actuating part to normal position before tripping of the clutch engaging and releasing member by said trip means.

11. In a clutch mechanism, in combination, a driving member, a driven member to be actuated by the driving member, a clutch element for clutching and unclutching the driving member and driven member relatively to each other, a clutch engaging and releasing member movable to cause said clutching and unclutching operations, trip means movable to shift said engaging and releasing member in one movement to cause clutching action and another movement to cause unclutching action, a control device for actuating said trip means comprising a handle, an actuating part operated by said handle for moving the trip means, and instrumentalities between the actuating part and trip means to lock the said part in a position holding the trip means ready to coact with the clutch engaging and releasing member until the tripping is completed.

12. In a clutch mechanism, in combination, a driving member, a driven member to be actuated by the driving member, a clutch element for clutching and unclutching the driving member and driven member relatively to each other, a clutch engaging and releasing member mova le to cause said clutching and unclutching operations, trip means movable to shift said engaging and releasing member in one movement to cause clutching action and another movement to cause unclutching action, a control device for actuating said trip means comprising a handle, an actuating part operated by said handle for moving the trip means, instrumentalities between the actuating part and trip means to lock the said part in a position holding the trip means ,ready to coact with the clutch engaging and releasing member until the tripping is completed, and automatic mechanism to return the actuating part to its normal position when said tripping is completed,

including instrumentalities to render the actuating part free of the actuating force of the handle when the handle has been operated to cause cooperation of the actuating part and trip means. 13. In a clutch mechanism, in combination, a driving member, a driven member to be actuated by the driving member, a clutch intermediate the two, a clutch engaging and release member for actuating the clutch, a trip device to trip said clutch engaging and release member in opposite directions, one direction to engage the clutch and the other direction to release the clutch, a control device for said trip member comprising a handle, an actuating sleeve associated with the handle and operable thereby to move the trip member into a position for cooperation with the clutch engaging and release member, a part on said actuating sleeve to interlock with the trip member for holding said sleeve in a position to which it is moved by the handle, the cooperation of the trip member with the clutch engaging and release member causing said trip member to release the said actuating sleeve, and means to restore the actuating sleeve to its normal position when so released. a

14. In a clutch mechanism, in combination, a

driving member, a driven member to be actuated by the driving member, a clutch intermediate the two, a clutch engaging and release member for actuating the clutch, a trip device to trip said clutch engaging and release member in opposite directions, one direction to engage the clutch and the other direction to release the clutch, a control device for said trip member comprising a handle, an actuating sleeve associated with the handle and operable thereby to move the trip member into a position for cooperation with the clutch engaging and release member, a part on said actuating sleeve to interlock with the trip member for holding said sleeve in a position to which it is moved by the handle, the cooperation or the after actuation thereof, and a clutch connection intermediate the handle and said actuating sleeve to release the sleeve from actuating force oi. the handle when the sleeve has been moved into cooperation with the trip member by the operation of the handle.

15. In a clutch mechanism, in combination, a driving member, a driven member to be actuated by the driving member, a'clutch intermediate the two, a clutch engaging and release member for actuating the clutch, a trip device to trip said clutch engaging and release member in opposite directions, one direction to engage the clutch and the other direction to release the clutch, a control device for said trip member comprising a handle, an actuating sleeve associated with the handle and operable thereby to move the trip member into a position for cooperation with the clutch engaging and release member, a part on said actuating sleeve to interlock with the trip member for holding said sleeve in a position to which it is moved by the handle, the cooperation of the trip member with the clutch engaging and release member causing said trip member to release the said actuating sleeve, means to restore the actuating sleeveito its normal position when so released, means to restore the handle to its normal position after actuation thereof, a clutch connection intermediate the handle and said actuating sleeve to release the sleeve from actuat ing force of the handle when the sleeve has been moved into cooperation with the trip member by the operation of the handle, the clutch device between the actuating sleeve and the handle comprising a portion of the sleeve formed into a cuplike extension, ball clutch parts intermediate the handle and said cup-like portion of the sleeve, and a spindle upon which the handle and the sleeve are mounted including a shoulder for movsleeve.

, JOHN W. RACKLYEFI. 

